# Is there an expiry date of books copyright?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-expiry-date-of-books-copyright/160258>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [March 10, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-expiry-date-of-books-copyright/160258 "2003-03-10T06:35:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-expiry-date-of-books-copyright/160258/1 "2003-03-10T06:35:26Z")

</div>

So?

Could I print my own copy of the Musketeers and sell it for profit; or is there still someone who owns the copyright for such classical books?

What about the traductions? If I traduct myself the Musketeers in english; could I sell it for profit and call it “The Three Musketeers”

Finally, would I have to copyright my traduction and if so, this new copyright will be effective for how long?

thanks a lot

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DrLiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90ced4/32.png) [@DrLiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLiver)\
**Post date:** [March 10, 2003, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-an-expiry-date-of-books-copyright/160258/2 "2003-03-10T06:42:14Z")

</div>

oops, I thought that it didn’t get through the first time;

could a mod please close this thread and let the other one.  
thanks